Now We Know, Now We Begin

Mr. Martin extensively guided us on how to begin programming through "ROBOTC". We're stuck with a different brain (microcontroller version 0.5) and needed more aid to work with such an old device. To any future "Principles of Engineering" students, you have to be very patient with using this micro controller.

Our group is in last place but with enough research, hard work, and determination, we'll be able to come back to our original position in this Robot Race.

A closeup of our programming USB.
It's really old technology, so it's rather finicky.

Back from Break

Spring Break proved to be a time of rejuvenation once again. Unfortunately, it ended all too soon and left me no alternative... I had to return to school. Due to a streak of bad luck, we are behind on the robot and it can't even move autonomously.

Our goal this week is to get it running by itself, and also to program it.

We need all the help we can get, but nobody seems available for asking. We'll need to do our best and try not to panic...

The program we'll be (hopefully) using soon

Beginning To An End

This week are minds are set on the hopeful completion of the robot. We should be adding the battery and microcontroller before Friday hopefully finishing on the day of. We've also progressed at a decent pace and are getting much better with our decision making.

The components we've yet to add

Friday!

We've come to the end of another week completing the base portion of the robot. Although it was rather difficult finding the right parts and deciding when and where to use the right tools we did manage. We even taught each other some of the tools names that we didn't know about.

Our robot, hanging out upside down while we tighten up some screws

Robot Work!

Goals:

• Continue working on the robot

If all goes according to plan, then by the end of this week we will have the basic structure done! This is exciting! We work well (if not a bit slowly) as a team. I consider myself lucky to be part of this team.

 Sammyr, happily working

Week Recap: Organization

Accomplished this week:

• Finished our organizing of the nuts and screws
• Began working on the actual robot!

Here is where the real work begins! It'll be a challenge, of that I'm certain. Still, there isn't anything we can't do if we do our best and work hard. But let's see how next week goes...

A peek into our messy toolbox

Organizing?

Goals for this week:

• Do whatever organizational tasks Mr. Martin has for us

That seems to include sorting and putting things together. It might be easy and a bit monotonous. Still, any work is better than no work at all. And do we really want to do hard work? I don't, at least, so these small jobs are looking better and better by the minute. 

A photo of what our work entails